American lawyer defends Sudanese Guantanamo inmate

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec 15, 2004 (PANA) — A US lawyer defending a Sudanese held in
Guantanamo Bay has approached the authorities in Khartoum for
help in gathering information relevant to the defence of her
client, whom the Americans believe was once a personal aide of the wanted Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Ladin.

This 2003 US Navy photo shows Al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees in orange jumpsuits sitting in a holding area at Camp X-Ray at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (AFP).

Local press reports Tuesday quoted Sharon Schaeffer, who is
holding brief for Ibrahim al-Qosi as stressing that “the
collection of data is very significant for defending the accused before the (US) court.”

The military lawyer, who is currently in Sudan said she had
approached some government ministries for enough information that
could refute the allegations and credibility of statements
presented by prosecution witnesses.

Lt-Col. Schaeffer would travel to Atbara town, about 350 km north
of Khartoum to see Qosi’s family and hand them a message in which
he reassured them of his sound physical and psychological health.

She added that she would meet his family, classmates and friends
to get more information and witnesses to challenge the charges
against Qosi.

She has so far met senior officials at the Justice Ministry and
Sudanese Bar Association.

US forces arrested Qosi at the borders between Afghanistan and
Pakistan.

Schaeffer said Qosi’s morale was high after he was moved from
solitary detention to collective custody.